Governor Announces Billion 2 Buffalo Plans

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Governor Andrew Cuomo is in Buffalo Tuesday to announce the plan moving forward for his "Billion to Buffalo" economic development initiative.

The Governor, as well as the Lieutenant Governor will participate in the WNY Regional Economic Development Council Assessment Tour late Tuesday morning.

The governor announced the billion dollar investment in January of this year. Since then, his WNY Regional Economic Development Council has been meeting to explore the best ways to spend the money and have the biggest economic impact.

Sources tell 2 On Your Side that the council submitted its recommendations to the governor, who has reviewed them. The sources say the Governor will announce which areas or industries will be the focus of the investment. Mr. Cuomo is also expected to give a status report on what has happened over the past 11 months.

In a separate announcement, sources tell us the governor will reveal a plan to "save" tour boat service in Niagara Falls.

The sources were unsure of specifics surrounding the governor's announcement and whether he would be supporting a plan to keep Maid of the Mist in operation or supporting competitive bids that could possibly result in a new operator.

2 On Your Side was unable to reach either Maid of the Mist or Hornblower.